Events
Grampians Ride a Great Success on Australia Day
When: 27th January 2009
Over 200 bikers and pillions set off from Ararat's Alexandra Gardens on Australia Day morning for the first up boomerang Grampians "Ride to Remember".
It was a great sight for the many spectators who waved them off, many celebrating Australia day with Australia Day flags. Riders came from right across the State to support the Grampians Ride and the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation who coordinated the event to raise valuable funds for the Medical Imaging Department at the Ararat Hospital.
With perfect weather, riders started to converge on Ararat from early morning, registering and then joining in the Ararat community barbecue before heading off on the 192km ride that took in Crowlands, Joel, Stawell then through to Pomonal, along the fringes of the Grampians National Park and then a morning tea stopover at Moyston.
The last stages of the Ride went through Willaura and then headed back through to Ararat with a lap of the main Barkly Street business precinct before heading to the Alexandra Gardens for a great get together and community barbecue organized by the Ararat Lions Club to celebrate Australia Day.
With the backdrop of Alexandra Lake and popular entertainment by Geoff Udy, the riders were happy to stay around, relax and make the most of the chance to catch up with fellow riders from far and wide, with many purchasing Blue Ribbon merchandising from the Ararat Branch to take away as a momento.
The feedback on the day from the Riders who took part was all positive to the Grampians Ride, and Sub C'tee Chairman Nicholas Hatswell in commenting on the Ride thanked everyone involved in organizing the event, congratulated them on their enthusiasm and acknowledged the great support from the Police Traffic Management Unit, Ararat Police, Moyston Public Parks Committee, Ararat Lions Club, Ararat Rural City and others in the community for assisting.
Ararat Branch President and Australia Day Honors Recipient 2009, Terry Weeks (OAM) said: "This first up Grampians ‘Ride to Remember' has been fantastic for the Ararat Branch to be able to run such a successful event in Ararat, as a follow-up to Melbourne's Blue Ribbon Ride which was held yesterday.
We are thrilled at the response to the Grampians Ride and it has been a great team effort here today by our Ararat Branch members, the Sub C'tee and our partners and we are pleased that our event has complimented the Ararat Rural City's Australia Day celebrations. I am sure this is the first of many annual Grampians Rides to come and already everyone is talking about next year and doubling the participants."
